Best tunes of the 2000's decade

The Cult are set to release Choice of Weapon, their ninth studio album, on May 22nd. The record is their first full-length work in five years, though the band has kept active by putting out “capsules” of new songs and live recordings in recent years. Co-produced by Chris Goss (Queens of the Stone Age, U.N.K.L.E.) and longtime collaborator Bob Rock (Metallica, Aerosmith), Choice of Weapon was made in several studios, including the band’s own Witch Mountain as well as spots in New York City, Los Angeles and the California desert. (You can preview “Lucifer,” a highlight from Choice of Weapon, above.) Rolling Stone caught up with frontman Ian Astbury to talk about his inspiration for the new album, which addresses the many things he believes are poisoning contemporary culture.Are you still working on this new record? I know it has a release date, but I got the impression that you were still tinkering with it.